Feds make funds available to fight infestationGrasshoppers are expected to be a huge problem in eastern Wyoming this summer, and Park County is taking steps to ensure the bugs don't cause extensive damage here as well.Josh Shorb of the Park County Weed and Pest District said last week that Park County is not particularly susceptible to grasshopper infestations, but people are still advised to take precautions against them.

“We've never had a large grasshopper problem here,” said Josh Shorb, “We're behind other counties.”

Some areas of the county are seeing an increase in infestation, but only one area near Meeteetse is scheduled for aerial spraying. Shorb also said there are some “hot spots” around the county.

“When they're bad, they're bad,” Shorb said.

Weed and Pest has bait and insecticides on hand, and the district shares costs with residents who want to treat their property. They also have blowers and sprayers that can be used free of cost, according to Shorb.

“We've already had a lot of people come in, and we've had to reorder chemicals,” Shorb said.

Grasshopper infestations may not be visible in their early stages when they are small, sometimes nearly invisible. But that is when they do most of their damage, so early treatment is important. There are also more options when the problem is attacked early in the season, and treatment can be done more cheaply.

Last week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would make nearly $11 million in funding through the department's Animal and Plant Inspection Service Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Suppression Program to respond to requests for assistance. The money will be used in areas identified as facing economically significant outbreaks. While the funding only covers treatment of rangeland, adjacent cropland will benefit from the treatment as well.